Legio I Noricorum

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
tumb
Above: Brick stamp of the Legio I Noricorum, found in Schwechat (Lower Austria), below: Western horseshoe tower of Fort Favianis
Shield sign of the Lanciarii Comaginenses

The Legio prima Noricorum ("First Legion of the Noricans") was part of the Limitanei or Riparenses , the stationary border troops of the late Roman army and was set up under Diocletian (284-305). It probably existed until the early 5th century AD.

function

The Legion was supposed to relieve the long- established Legio II Italica in the province of Noricum ripense (Ufernoricum) and secure the eastern part of the Noric Danube Limes , the area between the Noric -Pannonian border and the River Enns . From the 4th century onwards, their relatives were mainly used as milites liburnarii (marines). These men were specially trained for use on Liburnians (light river patrol ships). The legion was probably used in all defensive battles against invading Germanic tribes. Some of their soldiers were also used for brick production.

development

The Alemanni incursions at the time of Aurelian (270-275) caused Emperor Diocletian to massively strengthen the troops on the Danube Limes. This was accompanied by the stationing of a newly excavated legion in Ufernoricum. Most of the Germanic tribes were probably recruited for this 2,000-strong force . In the early 5th century, the Legion was under the supreme command of a section general ( Dux Pannoniae Primae et Norici Ripensis ) and had been divided into two locations. It is possible that some of their units lasted until 475 or 476, but then disbanded because their pay was missing as a result of the collapse of the western Roman part of the empire.

Locations

According to Notitia Dignitatum , the Legion was present in two Norican locations:

It was probably initially stationed entirely in Favianis ( Mautern an der Donau ), as the camp there had been expanded considerably in the second half of the 4th century. In the Notitia a naval department is listed for Fafianae under the command of a prefect ( Praefectus legionis liburnariorum primorum Noricorum ). Brick stamp finds refer to the last major construction work under the Dux Ursicinus, the section general under Valentinian I (364–375). According to the current state of knowledge, your stay in Mautern can be regarded as reasonably secure, at least until the rule of Valentinian I.

The fifth cohort was quartered in Ad Iuvense ( Wallsee ). According to the Notitia , another division of marines under the command of a prefect ( Praefectus legionis primae Noricorum militum liburnariorum cohortis quintae ) monitored the upper section ( partis superioris ) of the Noric Danube with their patrol boats .

That also in Notitia mentioned Lanciarii Comaginenses , "the lance throwers in Comagena " (Tulln), goods - possibly - one carved out of this Legion vexillation later than Pseudocomitatenses in the army of Comes Illyrici was included.

Inscriptions

From the last decade of the 3rd century a sacrificial inscription by the speculator (scout) Ulpius Valerius, known to the god Mithras , was found near the provincial capital of Binnenoricum, Virunum , on the Zollfeld near Klagenfurt .

Stamped bricks of the Legion are verifiable for the following locations:

In Carnuntum and Mannersdorf am Leithagebirge some of their veterans settled clearly in the 4th century.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Heinrich Beck , Dieter Geuenich , Heiko Steuer (ed.): Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , Volume 21, de Gruyter, ISBN 978-3-11-017272-0 , p. 332
  2. ^ Johanna Haberl: Favianis, Vindobona and Vienna: An archaeological-historical illustration for the Vita S. Severini of Eugippius , Brill Academic Pub, Leiden 1976, ISBN 9004-04548-1 , p. 75.
  3. ↑ Dirk Henning: Periclitans res Publica: Empire and Elites in the Crisis of the Western Roman Empire 454 / 5-493 AD Series: Historia Einzelschriften Vol. 133, Steiner, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-515-07485-6 , p. 315
  4. ↑ New excavations in the Roman auxiliary fort Mautern-Favianis and in the eastern camp service in Forum Archaeologiae - Journal for Classical Archeology 5 / XII / 1997.
  5. ↑ Notitia Dignitatum Occ. XXXIV.
  6. ↑ CIL 3, 4803
  7. ^ Jona Lendering: Legio I Noricorum at livius.org
  8. ^ AE 2004, 83
  9. ↑ CIL 3, 4655 aa
  10. ↑ CIL 3, 4803
  11. ↑ CIL 3, 11847
  12. ↑ CIL 3, 648
  13. ↑ CIL 3, 11349 c
  14. ^ AE 2001, 1655